Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 59

The Exposition of Spiritual Knowledge

Jñāna-pradarśanam

Devanagari script

अनिश्चितमतिर्भूत्वा वेदमालिर्द्विजोत्तमः । पुनर्जानन्तिमागम्य प्रणम्येदमुवाच ह ॥ ५९ ॥

Transliteration

aniścitamatirbhūtvā vedamālirdvijottamaḥ | punarjānantimāgamya praṇamyedamuvāca ha || 59 ||

Translation

মনত অনিশ্চয় আহি পৰাত, দ্বিজোত্তম বেদমালী পুনৰ জানন্তিৰ ওচৰলৈ আহিল; প্ৰণাম কৰি এই কথা ক’লে।

Word by Word

• अनिश्चित-मतिḥ: uncertain mind
• अनिश्चित-मतिḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject; state/quality)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aniścita (अनिश्चित प्रातिपदिक) + mati (मति प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (भू धातु) + ktvā (क्त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), ‘having become’

• वेदमालिः: Vedamāli
• वेदमालिः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vedamāli (वेदमालि प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम (proper noun)

• द्विज-उत्तमः: best of the twice-born
• द्विज-उत्तमः: Apposition (सम्बोधन/विशेष्य-विशेषणभाव to subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (द्विज प्रातिपदिक) + uttama (उत्तम प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (द्विजानाम् उत्तमः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: punar (पुनर् अव्यय)
• Form: काल/पुनरावृत्त्यर्थक अव्यय (adverb: again)

• जानन्तीम्: Jānantī (the knowing lady)
• जानन्तीम्: Karma (कर्म/object of ‘आगम्य’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jānantī (जानन्ती प्रातिपदिक; √jñā + शतृ/शानच् स्त्री)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle used as noun), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• आगम्य: having approached
• आगम्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √gam (गम् धातु) + ā- (आ) + ल्यप् (ल्यप्)
• Form: ल्यबन्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having come/approached’

• प्रणम्य: having bowed
• प्रणम्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √nam (नम् धातु) + pra- (प्र) + ल्यप् (ल्यप्)
• Form: ल्यबन्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), ‘having bowed’

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Karma (कर्म/object of ‘उवाच’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (इदम् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया/main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ह: indeed / then
• ह: Nipata (निपात/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ha (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/narrative)

Speaker

Narrator (Sūta-style narrative voice) describing Vedamāli’s action before he speaks

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Vedamāli
• Jānanti

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It highlights the dharmic posture of a seeker: when doubts arise, one should return to a worthy guide, approach respectfully, and inquire again with humility.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

Though not directly naming bhakti, it models the bhakti-like attitude of praṇāma (reverent surrender) and earnest seeking—key dispositions for receiving spiritual teaching.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse emphasizes the method of learning—re-approaching the teacher and clarifying uncertainty—an essential discipline underlying Vedāṅga studies such as Vyākaraṇa and Śikṣā.